Global Tourism forum opens in Luanda as Angola positions itself at the center of Africa’s tourism investment agenda

The Global Tourism Forum Angola Investment Summit opened today in the Angolan capital with a level of protocol rarely seen in the region’s tourism calendar, turning Luanda into a focal point for Africa’s investment diplomacy.

The summit brought together Angola’s President João Lourenço, the President of Mozambique, several prime ministers from the region, nearly ten tourism ministers, UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nowais, WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara, and investors from across the world.

For Angola, the gathering was more than a tourism conference. It was a political and economic signal: the country wants to place tourism at the heart of its diversification strategy and position itself as one of Africa’s emerging investment destinations.

Speaking at the opening, Bulut Bağcı, President of the Global Tourism Forum Institute, delivered a personal message about Angola’s place in his own journey.

“Angola is not only a destination where we do business. Angola is my second home. I would especially like to thank President João Lourenço for creating this trust, this vision, and this opportunity,” Bağcı said.

His remarks also pointed to a deeper shift in the forum’s presence in Angola. Bağcı stressed that Global Tourism Forum is not only organizing an international event in the country, but also committing to long-term investments on the ground.

“We are not here only to organize a summit. Together with my partners, we have signed for several investments in Angola’s gastronomy and hospitality sectors. Very soon, we will begin our construction processes. I am pleased to share this good news from here,” he added.

The announcement gives the summit a practical dimension beyond diplomacy. It signals that Angola’s tourism ambitions are beginning to move from policy language to concrete investment activity, particularly in hospitality, gastronomy, coastal tourism, cultural tourism and destination infrastructure.

The strong international presence in Luanda also reflects a broader continental trend. Across Africa, tourism is increasingly being discussed not only as a visitor economy, but as a tool for infrastructure development, job creation, foreign direct investment and regional positioning.

For Angola, this summit marks an important moment. With high-level political backing, international institutional participation and private-sector investor interest, the country is seeking to present itself as a credible new address for tourism capital.

Bağcı’s message captured the tone of the day: Angola is not merely hosting a global forum. It is making a case for itself as a rising investment gateway for African tourism.